Space Station Commander Honors US Veterans (Video)

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Expedition 50 mission commander and a retired U.S. Army Colonel, pays tribute to U.S. service members in a new video message recorded on the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough sent a video message from the International Space Station, honoring the sacrifices of U.S. service men and women this Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

Kimbrough is the commander of Expedition 50 aboard the space station and a retired U.S. Army Colonel. In the video message, he paid tribute to U.S. service members and recognized the sacrifices they and their family members make everyday.

"As I orbit the Earth at an altitude of 250 miles, I am constantly in awe of the sight of our planet below," Kimbrough said in the video released by NASA. "I am equally awestruck by those brave Americans who served, and who are currently serving around the world in the U.S. Armed Forces, in the defense of our freedom." [NASA Salutes Veterans From Land & Space]

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Expedition 50 mission commander and a retired U.S. Army Colonel, pays tribute to U.S. service members in a new video message recorded on the International Space Station.

The three Expedition 50 crewmembers will soon be joined by NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency, on Nov. 18.

"As we commemorate Veterans Day," Kimbrogh said, "please take a moment to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and those currently serving on behalf of us every minute, every day, to keep us free — to allow us to explore and enrich the lives of others on Earth. Thank you."